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The number of England's beaches gaining Blue Flag awards for cleanliness has increased in 2012. But about 30% of the beaches might not reach tougher water quality standards being introduced next year, said Blue Flag scheme organisers Keep Britain Tidy.

Keep Britain Tidy said the tougher water quality standard being introduced in 2013 under the new EU Bathing Water Directive was estimated to be twice as stringent as the current Blue Flag water quality standards.

"We estimate that around 30% of current Blue Flag beaches might not reach the necessary standard," said a spokesman for Keep Britain Tidy.

Also, in England, Blue Flag beaches will next year need to provide warnings to beach users when nearby combined sewer overflows discharge, if that discharge could temporarily affect the bathing water quality.

The Blue Flag announcement came on the same day that Surfers against Sewage launched their sewage alert service. This provides real time updates, by text message and online, on sewage discharges into the sea for almost 200 beaches, 150 more than in 2011.